I'm not sure why, but the Yaesu FT-991A does not come with a built-in GPS unit. So if you want that data included in digital QSO's, you will need to connect your own external GPS antenna. Now comes the Garmin GPS18x PC, a fully compatible NMEA GPS, WAAS enabled antenna that connects to the FT-991A's GPS/CAT DB9 serial port. Power is supplied by a 12 volt plug into my Yaesu FP-1030A power supply.
Setup is pretty simple with radio
menu 028 set to
GPS1, which is the the default setting. Plug it in, and turn it on. Wait, slow down. Did you get that?
Now when you key up on a C4FM repeater - as well as with a few other functions - your location/distance is also transmitted/received for the other stations. And if it makes your day, you get the cool little green GPS satellite icon showing up on the FT-991A touchscreen. Nice!
Update: Oct 2020
With a Powerwerx PowerPole-to-cigar lighter adapter, I plugged this into my RIGrunner 4007U because I kept hitting the plug sticking out the front of the power supply. This GPS is working great!
